Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-03-25


The school register for this district gives
some interesting facts. Amount paid for
teachers wages, including board, SllI4O,
or Slgj65 for each of the six scholars
The amount of school money received the
past year was S32 10. leaving to he pruvid
ed for by tax SS1 80. As the grand list is
>l9O. - II tax of GG 3 ; cents ON the dollar
is required to raise the amount. How
well these expensive privileges are appre-
ciated and improved is also shown. Only
one scholar, Lizzie Sherman, has neither
absent nor tardy mark our design was to
give the names and attendance of the 9th
er five, but respect for them forbds and
we will only say that the average attend
ance of these five was 81 40 out of 1lS
days, or an average daily attendance of 3
l6923O, an average absence Of a tritie over
six weeks Perhaps some one Interested
can suggest better plan than lessening
the number of school weeks. Surely, a
reform of some kind is needed. QClZ.
\ NINETIETu BIRTHDAY AND SOME FACTS AND
EEAINIsCENCEs CONNECTED WITH 1T.
Eb,.urler Person, who has a home with his son
and daughter at the residence of Dra. r. p. Pratt
was 30 years old ON Monday, March 9lst. lie su
the enjoyment of good health, has a remarkable
memory and fund Of knowledge that makes
hill lHtfllEtill anu interesting Hl ''llNtlNttl'il
Like the bright warm and clear spring morning
Of his Goth anniversary birthday, So the declining
wears of his life are passing peacefully away
burning that day he made three calls among near
urlghburS and with Silyet-headrd cane in hand
L." walked as hrsky along the snow path as
though only - instead of NJ winters had passed
over his head Mr.. Person was born IN jamaica
March q. l1W. The parental home was in the
northeast part of the town, and his birthplace
was Il log house located some ~ rods from the
town line of Windham Ills parents were George
ftlt
II. His grandparents were George and Betsey
chamberlain Person of lyndeboro, n. II. Abb
gail AInlun was born March 3, li1d, and was the
daughter of Ephraim Amidon Of Westmureland,
y H., who came from Oxford Mass, and settled
in that town previous to III, where he died March
u, 1872, aged - years. His wife was Jane Rob
bins who died May *, 1891, aged 81, Mr. AmidOn
was member of Capt. Kimbal Cartons cumpa-
ny in M, which took part in the battle of Ben.
uingtOn. When Mr.. Person was born in Jamaica
most of the dwellings in that town were log
houses. There were no school houses in town at
that time, and for several years schools were held
IN private houses or in barns. only eight weeks
of schooling were sustained each year till he was
about ten years old, when two terms of eight
weeks each completed the amount of yearly
schooling. When school houses were first built
they We're provided with seats but not with desks.
Such scholars as could write took turns in sitting
AT the table in the centre of the ROOM while per
forming that daily task. He was the eldest Of ten
children. seven sons and three daughters, only
two of whom are now living. His brother George,
who Is 81 years old, resides IN lBrattltboro MIR.
Person married first Laura GLE Of Chester. Vt,
Jan q, 1852 She died Feb :, 1850, aged IL He
married second Sally Abbott, Feb. =, 1872 She
became almost blind, and one morning in 1879,
while near an open tireframe, her clothing caught
fire and caused her death in few minutes. BY
the first marriage there Were seven children, four
daughters and three sons Five are now living.
Onp daughter was the wife of Gen. w. W. lyndt
and another the wife Of X. Morton Pratt. 1t may
not be- amiss to remark that Emperor William of
Germany and Mr. Person are Of the same age,
each being 90 years old ON the same day. Doubt
less the emperor would have been willing 10 shake
hands with him could he have been present at his
birthday festivities in Berlin March 81 lSS'
THE ADVENT OF SPRING.
Spring was usher,.d in on Monday the alst inst
with one of the most lovely days Of the season,
and with il came the bluebird and the robin. The
coming of the robin in March, however. is not
considered good omen of an early spring by
some aged peisous old Sol Howard of Wind
ham. in the days OF long ago used to say he had
ruthrrstc the devil than Il March robin, because
as he claimed it indicated "A cold backward spring
Whether robin rrdhrrast on Monday heralded the
big storm of snow and wind ON Tuesday We need
not try to decide; but the winter blast came and
piled the snow into high drifts and the heart OF
the weary shuyclcr Of SNOW was not cheered by
any redbreast's note piping promise Of early
spring. d. l. NJ